Comments on: Ask Why http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/2008/09/ask-why.html Hiring technical people and being hired can be difficult, no matter what the economy is doing. Use the tips here to hire better, or find a new job. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:05:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: ahy http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/2008/09/ask-why.html/comment-page-1#comment-4974 ahy Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:14:38 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/?p=705#comment-4974 I moved on when I didn't get a promotion. I almost started to believe them when they told me I had so many weaknesses, but it was ok, I could work on them, they would help me. But "help" turned out to be busywork, and constant reminders that while I might think I was good I really really wasn't you know, and while I never thought I was perfect, I knew I wasn't *that* bad. I decided I'd better get out before any last shreds of confidence disappeared. When I went on the market, I discovered that actually, my "weaknesses" ... weren't. I got enough offers that I finally started believing that I might be worthwhile. I picked the one where I thought I'd learn most. I made a good choice - I learnt so much I could hardly believe it. I also started to value what I already knew and had been told for so long was worthless. Sometimes you're just in an insane environment, and the right thing to do is move to a saner one. Ironically, even in the insane environment, I had a really good boss. But what she could do was constrained by the insanity around her. I moved on when I didn’t get a promotion. I almost started to believe them when they told me I had so many weaknesses, but it was ok, I could work on them, they would help me.

But “help” turned out to be busywork, and constant reminders that while I might think I was good I really really wasn’t you know, and while I never thought I was perfect, I knew I wasn’t *that* bad. I decided I’d better get out before any last shreds of confidence disappeared. When I went on the market, I discovered that actually, my “weaknesses” … weren’t. I got enough offers that I finally started believing that I might be worthwhile.

I picked the one where I thought I’d learn most. I made a good choice – I learnt so much I could hardly believe it. I also started to value what I already knew and had been told for so long was worthless.

Sometimes you’re just in an insane environment, and the right thing to do is move to a saner one. Ironically, even in the insane environment, I had a really good boss. But what she could do was constrained by the insanity around her.

]]> By: Mark McClure http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/2008/09/ask-why.html/comment-page-1#comment-4972 Mark McClure Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:41:34 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/?p=705#comment-4972 Did the manager who was coaching/mentoring you stick around too? Sounds like she would be very much in demand given that her leadership and talent management skills shone so brightly. Did the manager who was coaching/mentoring you stick around too? Sounds like she would be very much in demand given that her leadership and talent management skills shone so brightly.

]]> By: Remus Stratulat http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/2008/09/ask-why.html/comment-page-1#comment-4943 Remus Stratulat Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:42:04 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/?p=705#comment-4943 Reading this post is like looking to myself 4 years ago. The difference is that I've left the company. I returned back after just 3 months as I figured out my place was with my old guys and they also figured out I belong with them. I am a manager now learning a lot from my boss (the same through all this time) Reading this post is like looking to myself 4 years ago. The difference is that I’ve left the company. I returned back after just 3 months as I figured out my place was with my old guys and they also figured out I belong with them.
I am a manager now learning a lot from my boss (the same through all this time)

]]> By: Ask a Manager http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/2008/09/ask-why.html/comment-page-1#comment-4935 Ask a Manager Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:46:27 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/?p=705#comment-4935 I love this post. It should be required reading. I love this post. It should be required reading.

]]>